Ink jet recording apparatus and ink suction method of the recording head

Abstract

An ink jet recording apparatus in which a nozzle ink jet recording head provided with a nozzle plate provided with apertures for jetting an ink droplet and a capping device provided with a cap unit for sealing the apertures of the nozzle plate when the recording apparatus is not used are mounted, in which in the cap unit of the capping device, in a sealed state, an ink suction port for supplying negative pressure for exhausting ink from a nozzle aperture if necessary is arranged at the bottom and an atmospheric air open port for releasing negative pressure is arranged on one side and in which a porous plate provided with plural through holes for adjusting the distribution of pressure in the longitudinal direction of the cap unit is housed between the inner bottom face and the upper open face of the cap unit and further, an ink suction method of a recording head are provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 
       an ink jet recording head including nozzle apertures for jetting an ink droplet; and  
       a capping device having a cap unit for sealing said nozzle apertures when said recording apparatus is not used,  
       wherein said cap unit of said capping device comprises:  
       an ink suction port being arranged at a bottom of said cap unit for supplying negative pressure so as to exhaust ink from said nozzle apertures in a sealed state of said nozzle apertures; and  
       an atmospheric air open port being arranged on one side of said cap unit for releasing the negative pressure;  
       wherein said one side of said cap unit is adjacent to and not parallel with said bottom.  
     
     
       2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim  1 , further comprising an ink absorber housed in said cap unit, wherein and said atmospheric air open port is arranged above said ink absorber. 
     
     
       3. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head including nozzle apertures for jetting an ink droplet; and 
       a capping device having a cap unit for sealing said nozzle apertures when said recording apparatus is not used,  
       wherein said cap unit of said capping device comprises:  
       an ink suction port being arranged at a bottom of said cap unit for supplying negative pressure so as to exhaust ink from said nozzle apertures in a sealed state of said nozzle apertures; and  
       an atmospheric air open port being arranged on one side of said cap unit for releasing the negative pressure; and  
       an ink absorber housed in said cap unit, said atmospheric air open port provided to one side of said cap unit being arranged above said ink absorber;  
       wherein said atmospheric air open port is formed so as to be tilted toward said ink absorber.  
     
     
       4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said ink suction port is arranged on said bottom on a side opposite to said one side on which said atmospheric air open port is arranged. 
     
     
       5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said cap unit is formed in a rectangle, 
       said atmospheric air open port is arranged at a corner on one side of said cap unit, and  
       said ink suction port is arranged at a corner opposite to said atmospheric air open port diagonally.  
     
     
       6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said cap unit comprises a cap case and a cap member formed of flexible material, 
       said cap member is formed so as to be protruded from an upper edge of said cap case,  
       said atmospheric air open port pierces said cap member in a direction of a thickness of said cap member and is provided on a part of said cap member protruded from said cap case, and  
       said atmospheric air open port is constituted so as to be closed and opened according to a pressure created when said cap member is pressed upon said recording head.  
     
     
       7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim  6 , wherein said part of said cap member to which said atmospheric air open port is provided protrudes from an opposite upper edge of said cap member. 
     
     
       8. A cap unit for sealing nozzle apertures for jetting an ink droplet when an ink droplet when an ink jet recording apparatus is not used, the nozzle apertures being provided in a recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: 
       an ink suction port being arranged at a bottom of said cap unit and supplying negative pressure so as to exhaust ink from said nozzle apertures in a sealed state of said nozzle apertures; and  
       an atmospheric air open port being arranged on one side of said cap unit for releasing the negative pressure;  
       wherein said one side of said cap unit is adjacent to an not parallel with said bottom.  
     
     
       9. The cap unit according to claim  8 , further comprising an ink absorber housed in said cap unit, wherein said atmospheric air open port is arranged above said ink absorber. 
     
     
       10. The cap unit according to claim  8 , wherein said ink suction port is arranged on said bottom on a side opposite to said one side on which said atmospheric air open port is arranged. 
     
     
       11. The cap unit according to claim  8 , wherein said cap unit is formed in a rectangle, 
       said atmospheric air open port is arranged at a corner on one side of said cap unit, and  
       said ink suction port is arranged at a corner opposite to said atmospheric air open port diagonally.  
     
     
       12. The cap unit according to claim  8 , wherein said cap unit comprises a cap case and a cap member formed of flexible material, 
       said cap member is formed so as to be protruded from an upper edge of said cap case,  
       said atmospheric air open port pierces said cap member in a direction of a thickness of said cap member and is provided on a part of said cap member protruded from said cap case, and  
       said atmospheric air open port is constituted so as to be closed and opened according to a pressure created when said cap member is pressed upon said recording head.  
     
     
       13. The cap unit according to claim  12 , wherein said part of said cap member to which said atmospheric air open port is provided protrudes from an opposite upper edge of said cap member. 
     
     
       14. A cap unit for sealing nozzle apertures for jetting an ink droplet when an ink droplet when an ink jet recording apparatus is not used, the nozzle apertures being provided in a recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: 
       an ink suction port being arranged at a bottom of said cap unit and supplying negative pressure so as to exhaust ink from said nozzle apertures in a sealed state of said nozzle apertures; and  
       an atmospheric air open port being arranged on one side of said cap unit for releasing the negative pressure; and  
       an ink absorber housed in said cap unit, said atmospheric air open port provided to one side of said cap unit being arranged above said ink absorber;  
       wherein said atmospheric air open port is formed so as to be tilted toward said ink absorber.